“Lump sum appropriations we have to retain it, there were a lot of questions about that. The calamity fund is really needed since we do not know how many typhoons we have to face every year,” Ungab, who represents Davao 2nd district, said.

The contingency funds were needed “because there’s a volatile situation in the Middle East,” he added.

Ungab said the equally contentious Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) has been stricken out of the budget.

Allocations for the PDAF were realigned to the Department of Health, Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education and the Department of Public Works and Highways, he said.

Kabataan Rep. Terry Ridon said the realignment of the fund did not address the ”larger problem” of the pork barrel system.

“Even if the House leadership says that Congress has abolished the Priority Development Assistance Fund –which in reality was only reapportioned and hidden in department budgets – the larger problem remains,” Ridon said in a statement on Friday.

“Most of these funds are prone to corruption, as financial oversight over such funds is minimal if not inexistent, and the utilization of the said funds rest solely on the president,” he said.

The House passed the General Appropriations Bill of 2014 (House Bill 2630) on second reading. The chamber will adjourn today and resume on October 14.

During the break, a small committee will collate the amendments and pass it on third reading.